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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cannabis relaxation opposed by majority
Alan Travis The Guardian
Wednesday 31 Jul 2002 The majority of British voters disapprove of the home secretary David Blunkett's decision to relax the penalties for possession of cannabis, according to this month's Guardian/ICM opinion poll. Some 53% of adult voters say they do not support the reclassification of cannabis as a less harmful drug. Only 38% say they support the move. But as ever when it comes to questions about drugs, the nation divides strictly according to age. A clear majority of the younger generation, those under 35, back the new "softly, softly" approach to cannabis. Some 54% of those aged 18 to 24 approve of the change as do 55% of 25- to 34-year-olds. But the older generation remains firmly opposed with 54% of the 35- to 64-year-olds disapproving of the change. Opposition is strongest among the over 65s, 76% of whom say they do not like the new policy which will see the police adopt a "seize and warn" policy towards those they find in possession of small amounts of cannabis. The ICM poll coincides with the modification of the Lambeth experiment in south London under which cannabis users were cautioned but not arrested, to free police officers to concentrate on class A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine. The modified Lambeth experiment, which comes into force today, will see it come into line with the policy announced by Mr Blunkett earlier this month. Police officers will no longer routinely arrest those they find in possession of cannabis but will instead adopt a "seize and warn" policy in most cases. They will only use their power of arrest for cannabis possession if there are "aggravating factors" such as the involvement of children, public order implications or "flagrant disregard of the law" such as smoking a joint in front of an officer. It is expected that the Metropolitan police will adopt the modified Lambeth policy across London this autumn in advance of parliamentary regulations which will implement the change nationwide next July. The details of the Guardian/ ICM poll show that attitudes towards cannabis possession also vary sharply according to social class and voting intention. Conservative voters are most hostile with 70% opposing the change and only 26% backing it. Labour voters are split down the middle, with 46% supporting Mr Blunkett and 45% against. There is a similar divide among Liberal Democrat voters despite their party's official policy of decriminalisation, with 46% against and 43% in favour. Views about cannabis also vary with social class. Generally approval ratings for the reform of the cannabis laws rises to 45% among the more affluent and middle class voters. Among working class and poorer voters the level of approval falls to 26% with 63% of social class DE voters - the unskilled and unemployed - opposed to any decision to relax the penalties for possessing cannabis. Crime figures show more than 100,000 people were charged with possessing a controlled drug in 2001-02. The overwhelming majority were for cannabis possession. The British crime survey recently found that 44% of people under 30 said they had tried cannabis. ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,002 voters aged over 18 by telephone between July 26 and 28 2002. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
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